Automatic tape winding machine

ABSTRACT

An automatic tape winder in which a splicer includes a tape applicator which includes a holder which moves back and forth along a length of splicing tape, holding it by vacuum suction to draw it from a stock and passing it via a cutter to a punch which holds it by vacuum suction. Also described is an extractor which blows leader tape from a cassette to a clasp which draws the leader over a splicing block.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 933,556 filed Aug. 14, 1978.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to winding machines, particularly automaticmachines which load magnetic tapes into standard cassettes, and also toapplicators which may be used in splicing magnetic tapes in such windingmachines.

According to the present state of the art, a standard cassette has aleader tape, the ends of which are anchored, one to each of the hubs ofthe cassette. The cassette usually has a narrow face which is aperturedso as to expose a length of the tape. Extending through each cassettenear the region of exposure of the tape are two ports, of which one orother normally receives the spindle of a capstan when the cassette isused in a recording or playback machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Whether a fully automatic or partially automatic machine is used forloading the cassette, the procedure for loading usually comprises thefollowing steps. A loop of the exposed leader tape is drawn from thecassette. The loop thus formed is drawn over a splicing block and oneshank of the loop is retained on a channel in the block. The other shankof the loop is held away from the block while the loop is severed andone of the severed ends of the loop is spliced to the magnetic tape.

One object of the present invention is to improve the operation of thesplicer. An important feature of the invention is an applicator whichmay constitute part of the splicer but may have a more general utility.An applicator according to the invention preferably comprises areciprocatable holder which can move lengthwise of a splicing tape andcan hold the tape by vacuum suction while it moves to draw the tape froma stock and can release the tape during a reverse movement, a punchwhich can hold by vacuum suction tape passed to it by the holder andwhich is movable to apply the tape that it holds, and a cutter forsevering tape held between the holder and the punch.

After one of the severed ends of the leader loop has been spliced to theadjacent end of the magnetic tape, the magnetic tape is usually woundinto the cassette, the winding being stopped when a sufficient, normallya predetermined, quantity of tape has been wound into the cassette. Thetape is again severed, the tape is spliced to the other end of theleader, which meanwhile has been held on the splicing block, and theremaining loop is wound back into the cassette. The cassette is thenejected from a magazine and a fresh cassette in the magazine is disposedin position ready for loading. There are in common use many partiallyautomatic machines in which most of the foregoing steps are or can beautomatically controlled; one notable exception is the initial step ofwithdrawing the leader loop from the cassette. There are proposals forthe automatic performance of this action, which is often done manually.Nevertheless, there are difficulties in achieving satisfactory operationand it is a further object of the present invention to provide a windingmachine which includes an improved arrangement for the extraction of aleader loop and for drawing the loop over a splicing block. Accordingly,the invention also provides a machine in which the loop of tape isblown, preferably by a pneumatic blast from a hollow probe that enters ahole intended to accommodate a capstan, into the ambit of a slidingclasp which closes to ensnare the loop and then draws it over a splicingblock.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an automatic winder;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the winder;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the loading region of the winder;

FIG. 4 is a detail of part of the winder; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of part of the winder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The principal mechanical components of the automatic winder are mountedon a vertical plate 1. Mounted on the plate is a spool 2 which has amotor and a brake (not shown). The spool carries a reel 3 of magnetictape, which may be blank or may carry a plurality of recordings of aprogramme in series along itself. Tape which is played off from the reel3 passes round a guide 4 and through a photoelectric sensor 5 which isused to detect a break in the magnetic tape and thereby to instigate analarm and stop the machine. The tape passes round a counter wheel, whichdrives an indicator which indicates the length of tapes which haspassed; this wheel 6 also serves to provide a velocity feedback signalto an electrical servomechanism that regulates the speed of the tape.The tape passes into a buffer chamber 7 constituted by a vacuum trough.Across the mouth of the trough is a sensor constituted by a photoemitter8 and a photodetector 9 which sense when tape is pulled out of thetrough. The detector controls the power to the motor for the spool 2 inorder to ensure that tape is being wound into the cassette, ashereinafter described, before power is applied to the motor for thespool 2.

Downstream of the tape from the buffer chamber 7 is a guide 10immediately preceding a wide gap magnetic head 11. This head serves todetect a cueing signal which is recorded on the tape for a purposementioned hereinafter.

Further along the path of the tape is a pair of splicing blocks 12 and13. The block 13 is fixed but the block 12 can be shifted pneumaticallyin a direction across the path of the tape. Each block has in its uppersurface two parallel channels which are provided with a row of ports towhich vacuum suction can be applied. When the block 12 is fullyretracted, its rear channel, that is to say the channel nearer the plate1 is aligned with the rear channel of the block 13 and the frontchannels of the two blocks are likewise aligned. When the block 12 islaterally shifted, its rear channel is aligned with the front channel ofthe block 13. There is a small gap between the blocks to accommodate acutter 14 which may be advanced into the gap, to cut tape which is forthe time being held by vacuum suction in the aligned channels of theblocks.

Above the splicing blocks 12 and 13 is the applicator which constitutesthe remainder of the splicer. This will be described later.

At the right-hand side of the front plate is a substantially vertical,but slightly tilted chute 15 which constitutes a magazine for cassettesthat require loading. The lowermost cassette in the magazine is in theposition for loading and would be disposed such that the aperturethrough which the tape is exposed is lowermost. The other cassettes forma narrow stack above the lowermost cassette in the magazine and, whenthe lowermost cassette is ejected force of gravity acting on the stackcauses the next cassette to take the loaded cassette's place. The lowerpart of the front of the magazine is constituted by a flap 16 which ishinged and can be opened by means of a pneumatic cylinder 17 to permitejection of a loaded cassette. A microswitch 18 senses the arrival of acassette in the position for loading.

As thus far described the machine is (except for the particular splicer)of commonplace construction. Its operation and the control of itsoperation by means of various switches and logic circuits, followsordinary practice. Accordingly, the various sensing switches and controlcircuits have not been described.

The two principal differences from known practice lie in theconstruction and manner of operation of the tape applicator and in theconstruction and manner of operation of the extractor by means of whichthe lead tape in the lowermost cassette is withdrawn and laid over thesplicing blocks.

Behind the lowermost part of the magazine, which in this region is openat the rear, is a support 19 (FIG. 2) which provides passageways for adrive spindle 20 and two probes 21 and 22. It will be recalled that acassette normally has one aperture, in a broad face, intended for thedrive spindle of a capstan which traverses the tape when the cassette isin normal use. The pin 21, which is hollow and has a lateral aperturenear its tip, enters the hole intended for the drive capstan. Normallythe cassette has at least one other aperture used either for location ofthe cassette in a player: the pin 22 enters this hole. The spindle 20engages one or other of the tape reel spindles in the cassette in orderthat, when the leader tape is attached to the end of the tape which isfed off the spool 2, the tape may be wound into the cassette.

Obviously, the construction must be modified if the cassette is what iscurrently known as a "micro cassette" but provided that the cassette hasan aperture for the spindle of a drive capstan and at least oneexternally drivable tape reel, a similar construction to the one thathas been described may be employed.

The pins 21 and 22 extend from a pad 23 made of expanded polymeric foam;this and the two pins are mounted on a slider 24 which may be advancedby means of a pneumatic cylinder 25 to insert the pins in their properlocations in the cassette which requires loading.

The drive spindle 20, passes through a housing 26 and carries a pulley27 which is driven by means of a belt 28 and another pulley 29 by adrive motor 30. The motor 30 is supported on a frame 31 which alsocarries a pneumatic cylinder 32 which can move a forked foot (not shown)into engagement with the drive spindle 20 to brake it. The drive spindle20 may be moved back and forth, to provide engagement and disengagementof the drive spindle 20 and the drive spindle of the cassette, by meansof a pneumatic cylinder 33.

Immediately below the cassette 34 (FIG. 3) which is in the position forloading is a sliding clasp 35 which comprises an open slot 36 alignedlengthwise of the cassette (FIG. 5). A pneumatically operated pin 37 canbe advanced across the slot against the restoring force of a spring 38.The clasp 35 carries a small pneumatic cylinder 39, for activating thepin. The clasp has a foot 40 which slides in a guideway 41 which isinclined at approximately the same angle to the horizontal as thecassette; the guideway slopes up to the region of the splicing blocks 12and 13 and then extends horizontally past and below them. A pillar 42extends upwardly from the foot to the clasp 35: the cylinder 39 ismounted laterally of this pillar. The clasp may be reciprocated back andforth along the guideway by means of a pneumatic cylinder 43 which has aconnecting rod 44 attached to the foot 40.

The cassette 34 is supported by a holder 45 (FIG. 3) which carries,below the position of the clasp a pair of prongs 46 (FIG. 4) over whichis disposed a sheet of wire gauze 47. Above the clasp is a tapered guide48. The purpose of these features will be described later.

The applicator comprises a plate 49 which is vertically reciprocable,being mounted on a carriage behind the plate 1 by means of bolts whichpass through a vertical slot in this plate. The carriage moves onparallel vertical bars and under the action of a double acting pistonand cylinder 50 (shown in outline in FIG. 1).

The plate 49 carries a reel 51 of splicing tape 52. The tape passesunder a guide post 53 to the under surface of a slider 54. This slideris mounted for horizontal sliding movement relative to the plate 49 andfor this purpose is mounted on horizontal parallel bars 55 and 56 whichare mounted between parallel vertical beams 57 and 58 affixed to theplate 49. The slider 54 has an oblique slot 59 which is engaged by a pin60 that is fixed to the front plate 1. Accordingly, the slider moves tothe left as the slider moves downwardly and moves to the right as theslider moves upwardly. Under the slider is a pad 61, which supports thetape 52 during the upward movement of the slider. The under surface ofthe slider has a row of ports to which pneumatic suction can be appliedvia a manifold 62 within the block; the manifold extends to a port 63which is connected to a flexible pneumatic line, a solenoid valve and avacuum pump (not shown).

To the right of the extreme right-hand position of the slider, andsecured to the right-hand side of the beam 58, is a vertical blade 64which has an aperture 65 at a position approximately in line with thebottom face of the slider. Adjacent the blade 64 is another, relativelymovable blade 66 which is attached to the side of a punch 67 that isreciprocable vertically relative to the plate 49 by means of a piston 68mounted on a bracket 69 secured to the plate 49. The under surface ofthe punch has a row of ports to which vacuum suction is applied by meansof a flexible line feeding a manifold in the punch.

It will be observed that when the punch is moved downwardly relative tothe plate when the plate is at the lowest point of its movement, theblade 66 which is alongside the punch 67 severs the tape at the aperturein the fixed blade. After the punch is moved to its upper positionrelative to the plate, the plate 49 moves upwardly, and meanwhile theslider moves across the plate, to draw tape from the reel and advancethe end of the tape through the aperture in the fixed blade across thelower face of the punch. When an additional splicing operation isrequired, the vacuum suction to the ports in the lower face of theslider is terminated, the pad supporting the tape, and downward movementof the plate causes leftwards movement of the slider so that the slidermoves effectively upstream of the tape ready to draw a further length oftape off the reel and to feed tape to the punch.

There follows a description of the cycle of operation of the wholemachine.

The cycle may be presumed to commence when a cassette is in the positionfor loading. The clasp for the cassette advances and air is applied tothe probe 21. The probes 21 and 22 pass into the apertures in the bodyof the cassette. A loop of the leader tape is blown out of the cassetteinto the fork of the leader guide and is supported by the gauze. The pin37 is advanced to ensnare the loop of the leader tape. The leader loopis pulled out towards the splicing blocks and is dragged over theblocks. When the clasp reaches a left-hand limit position, the pneumaticsupply to the cylinder 39 is cut off, to allow the leader tape to fallinto the aligned front channels of the splicing blocks. The end of themagnetic tape will have been disposed in the rear channel of the movableblock. Suction is applied to the splicing blocks to hold the leadertape. Above the splicing blocks and mounted on the front plate is an arm70 which is movable by a piston and cylinder 71 to swing outwardly andhold the upper shank of the leader loop away from the splicing blocks.After a short delay, a cutter 72 is caused to move between the splicingblocks to the magnetic tape, which is situated (initially) in the rearchannels of the splicing blocks and held down by suction, and the leadertape which is lying in the front channels. The cutter is deactivatedafter a delay and the movable block 12 is moved forward to align therear channel of the movable block with the front channel of the fixedblock. The tape applicator is advanced to apply by means of the punch ashort length of the adhesive tape to join the two lengths of tape whichare in the front channels. When the splicer is at the top of its stroke,suction is applied to the face of the punch to hold the loose end of thesplicing tape. No suction is applied to the lower face of the slider. Asthe applicator advances, the slider slides back over the tape 52. At thebottom of the travel of the plate 49, as detected by an appropriatelypositioned microswitch, suction is applied to the slider 54 which thenholds the splicing tape. Simultaneously, air is supplied to the cylinder68 which drives the punch and the adjacent blade down to sever theportion of the splicing tape; the punch travels downwardly to place theportion of the splicing tape down on to the front channels of thesplicing blocks; the length of tape will extend for a short distance oneach side of the gap between the blocks. After a short delay the punchreturns to its upper position on the plate 49 and after a further shortdelay the plate 49 is raised to its upper position. As the platereturns, suction is removed from the lower face of the punch but ismaintained on the lower face of the slider 54. Accordingly, during theupward stroke a new portion of tape is fed through the fixed blade 64 tothe punch. At the top of the stroke of the plate 49 the suction isremoved from the slider 54 but is maintained for the punch ready for thenext splicing operation.

If splicing tape has not been properly fed forward, a pressuredifference sensor signals that the suction ports on the punch are notfully covered. If the fault can be remedied, the machine sequence may berestarted.

When the magnetic tape is spliced to the leader tape and the drivespindle 20 has engaged the drive spindle in the cassette, power isapplied to the take-up motor, suction is removed from the splicingblocks and the tape is wound into the cassette. The vacuum stores ashort loop of magnetic tape; the front take-up motor must wind in thisloop of tape so that the photoelectric detector may cause power to besupplied to the reel motor.

The control of the length of tape to be fed into the cassette proceedsaccording to ordinary practice; it is controlled by a footage counter ifblank tape is wound in and a cueing signal if a predetermined length oftape with a pre-recorded programme on it is to be supplied.

When the tape has been brought to rest, suction is again applied to thesplicer blocks. Before the winding operation the rear channel of themovable splicing block has been aligned with the front channel of thefixed splicing block, and the front channel of the movable block stillholds the end of the upper shank of the leader. When the tape hassettled in the splicing blocks, the cutter is activated in order to cutthe magnetic tape. As the cutter is deactivated the movable splicingblock is shifted back to its rest position, thus aligning the remainingend of the leader tape with the tail of the wound-in magnetic tape. Asthe movable splicing block shifts, the splicer descends and splices theend of the leader tape to the tail of the magnetic tape. As the splicerreturns the suction is removed from the tape line and a pulse issupplied to the take-up motor in order that the spliced loop can bewound into the cassette. The leader guide returns towards its lowerposition; the leader separator returns to its rest position. When theleader guide reaches its right-hand limit position, the clamp for thecassette is released and the cassette is ejected.

I claim:
 1. In an automatic tape-winding machine that operates in anautomatic sequence that includes the extraction of a loop of leader tapefrom a cassette held in a magazine, the severing of the extracted loopand the splicing of the loop at a splicing block to a tape which iswound into the cassette, the combination with said magazine and splicingblock of a clasp mounted for reciprocal sliding movement between saidcassette and said splicing block and having closure means defining anambit for the clasp position able for reception of said loop anddelivery of said loop to said splicing block, and means for blowing theloop of tape from the cassette into the ambit of the clasp.